3. Introduction
“Scoring goals is the ultimate aim of football. To score goals in a real match, players have to
show a number of qualities including skill, imagination, creativity, awareness etc. Therefore
training practices must develop these skills
The following finishing practices were created with the goal to inspire players whilst giving
them different problems to solve. The players have to play under pressure, they have to react
to different types of service and have choices to make on different techniques to use and
whether to shoot early or combine with a team-mate.
All the practices run quickly with sharp movements, there are no long queues waiting to
shoot, and every player has a role and function to complete in order for the practices to run
smoothly”
Michael Beale
4. 3 ATTEMPTS AT GOAL – REACTION PRACTICE
ACTIONS
1 – pass to the target player, receive a lay off and shoot 1st time
2 – then react and receive a serve from coach 1 for a header at goal
3 – then react and run outside of the box to receive a pass from coach 2, then turn and shoot
4 – finally react and become the target player for the next player
5. 3 GOAL - MULTI FINISHING DRILL
The waiting player
Must remain
Focused and ready
To dribble and
Cross for the
Working player
ACTIONS
The working player has three attempts at goal
1 – Run through the gate and receive a pass for a 1st time shot
2 – Run back through the gate and receive a service for a header
3 – now spin and receive a cross from the waiting player
*After crossing, the waiting player begins his finishing circuit
6. FINISHING CIRCUIT
DRILL 3
DRILL 2
The forward has
to dribble towards
And through
the mannequins
In order to shoot
At goal
The midfielder
Passes the ball
into the forward.
The forward has
to turn with one
touch and then
Shoot at goal
Rotation of players
Midfielders move to
The forwards position.
After shooting.
Forwards must collect
their ball and move
to the next drill
DRILL 1
The forward has freedom of movement
The midfielder must dribble towards the attacker at match speed
The forward must make a run and receive a through pass in order to shoot at goal
Encourage the players
To play at a realistic
Pace and to be ruthless
When shooting at goal
Who can score a
Hat-trick?
7. FINISHING & COMBINATION PLAY
ACTIONS
ACTIONS
The player makes
a one-two
With the middle
Player, on receiving
The return pass,
The player must
Cross to the
Opposite wide
Player who has
made a run
into the box.
The player
then switches
positions with
the middle player
for the next attack
The middle player
has spun towards
the other wide
player. This player
Must now react to
this decision,
make a run into
the box and
attempt to score
from the cross.
The player then
returns to the
same position
for the next
attack
ACTIONS
This player receives a throw-out from the keeper
The player controls the ball into space and has a shot at goal,
The player then spins towards a wide player of their choice and makes a wall pass
The player then takes the place of that wide player
8. SHOOTING ALLEY
The counters watch
one player each and
Keep count of how
Many goals they
score
ACTIONS
3 Teams
Each team has four players
One team work as shooters, one team as keepers, one team as counters
The players get 1 point for each goal scored
The first player back into the middle square is given a bonus point
The teams rotate positions for the next game
9. SHOOTING TECHNIQUE - CIRCUIT
1
2
The Server passes
through the
Shooters legs.
The shooter
Spins and
finishes 1st
time
The shooter receives
a pass from the
Server. The server
then runs to press
the shooter who
must take a touch
to the side and
shoot at goal
3
4
The server plays
an aerial pass
out to the shooter.
The shooter is
allowed one touch
To control the
Ball and
one touch to shoot
at goal
The shooter plays
a one-two with
the server and
then shoots
At goal
ACTIONS
3 Teams
Each team has four players
One team work as shooters, one team as keepers, one team as servers
The players work on the coaches whistle and then go to the next position on the circuit
The players get 1 point for each goal scored
The teams rotate for the next game
10. GO IN, GO OUT AND COMBINE TO SCORE
ROTATION OF PLAYERS
The central player
becomes the wide
Player
The wide player becomes
the forward
The forward becomes
the central player
ACTIONS
The central player makes a one-two with the coach and passes out wide
The wide player receives and then passes inside to the forward
The wide player then makes a supporting inside and into a central position
The forward sets the supporting wide player and spins outside and into a wide position
The wide player then passes out to the forward in a wide position
The forward then crosses for the wide player to score
*The next attack goes out to the opposite wing
11. 3 PLAYER FINISHING COMBINATION
PLAYER ROTATION
Player A becomes B
Player B becomes C
Player C becomes A
Player A
1 – Dribble and shoot at goal
2 – spin and receive a lay off from Player B
3 – make a through pass for Player C
Player B
1 – receive a throw from the keeper
2 – turn and shoot
3 – spin and receive a pass from Player C
4 – lay the ball off for Player A
Player C
1 – After Player B has shot, pass the ball into
him
2 – make a run into the space behind Player B
3 – Receive a through pass from Player A
4 – Shoot at goal
12. ONE TOUCH PASSING AND FINISHING - 1
ACTIONS
3 one touch passes
Dribble and shoot at goal
Each player moves to the next position
13. ONE TOUCH PASSING AND FINISHING - 2
This player must
Spin and make
A supporting
Run to receive
The ball
ACTIONS
Five one touch passes and a shot at goal
Each player moves to the next position
14. ONE TOUCH PASSING AND FINISHING - 3
ACTIONS
Five one touch passes and a shot at goal
Each player moves to the next position
The centre forward must remember to look for any rebounds
15. ONE TOUCH PASSING AND FINISHING - 4
This player must remember
To spin and support the
Receiving player
This player must time his
Run in order to arrive
And shoot 1st time
ACTIONS
six one touch passes and a shot at goal
Each player moves to the next position
16. ONE TOUCH PASSING AND FINISHING - 5
Time your run
Don’t be in front of the
Red crossing player
ACTIONS
six one touch passes and a shot at goal
The blue players move to the next position
Once each player has had two shots at goal
The blue and red players change positions
17. Pass and overlap to finish
ACTIONS
The red player passes across
to the blue player and overlaps
The blue player dribbles inside
and makes a disguised reverse
pass to the red player
The red player can shoot or cross
The blue player must be ready
for a cross or any rebounds
Immediately the roles are
reversed
The blue player receives a pass
from the coach
The blue player then passes
across to the red player
and overlaps
Now the red player dribbles inside
and makes a disguised reverse
pass to the blue player
The blue player can shoot or cross
The red player must be ready
for a cross or any rebounds
For the next attack the players
switch starting positions
Pass
And
Overlap
18. PASSING AND MOVEMENT TO SCORE - 1
ACTIONS
The first player dribbles at top speed and makes a pass to the central player.
The central player receives the pass and then opens out and passes to a wide player
The central player then makes an overlapping run
The wide player dribbles inside and makes a reverse pass to the overlapping central player
The central player then crosses for the wide player to score
For the next attack,
The first player is now the central player, The central player is now the wide player and the wide player rests
This time the central player passes to the opposite wide player.
19. PASSING AND MOVEMENT TO SCORE - 2
ACTIONS
The first player dribbles at top speed and makes a pass to the central player.
The central player receives the pass and then opens out and passes to a wide player
The central player then makes an overlapping run
The wide player passes inside to the first player and makes a cross-over run into the box
The first player now passes to the overlapping central player
The central player then crosses for the wide player to score
For the next attack,
The first player is now the central player, The central player is now the wide player and the wide player rests
This time the central player passes to the opposite wide player.
20. REACTION FINISHING
The players
Makes one
touch passes
together. On
The coaches
call of “left” or
“right”. The
Players quickly
react and receive
a pass from the
Keepers to
Shoot 1st time
The players
Makes one
touch passes
together. On
The coaches
call of “left” or
“right”. The
Players quickly
react and receive
a pass from the
keepers to turn
and shoot in
the opposite
goal
Both players
start with a
ball each. On the
coaches whistle,
The players both
pass their balls
and spin to
Receive the other
Ball. The players
quickly shoot
at goal
The players pass
the ball to each
other. On the
coaches whistle,
The player in
possession of
the ball becomes
the attacker and
quickly dribbles
towards a goal
of his choice.
The other player
must now react
and defend
“The first player to score is the winner”
21. MOVEMENT OFF THE BALL TO SCORE
This player
starts the practice
and also sets the
Tone
This player receives
a pass from the
central player
Firstly, pass inside
to the central
player
The player then
passes into the
target / starting
player and makes
a run down
the line to receive
a return pass
Then make a run
across the pitch
into a “target”
player position
Receive a pass and
complete a one-two
with the wide player
The player then
crosses for the
central and starting
players to score
Then get into the
box and attempt
to score from the
wide players
cross
This player receives a pass from the starting player
The player then opens out and switches play
Now the player must time their run into the box and attempt to score from the wide players cross
For the next attack
The starting player becomes the central player, the central player becomes the wide player
and the wide player becomes the new starting player
22. OPPOSITE WIDE PLAYER ATTACKING THE FAR POST
ACTIONS
The central midfielder passes into the centre forward
The defender must allow the centre forward to have one touch before he can tackle
The two wide players make supporting runs
The forward passes out to one of the wide players who dribbles to cross
The opposite wide player and the centre forward get into the box and try to lose the defender
Can they score from the cross?
23. BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP - 1
The two forwards make
movements to receive
The central player
passes into one of the
forwards
The forwards must combine
to get a shot at goal
for the next attack, the
shooting player is replaced
by the central player
INFORMATION FOR THE PLAYERS
“Use your imagination”
“Make eye contact”
“Play at match speed”
“Hit the target”
24. BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP - 2
ACTIONS
The central player passes into one of the forwards
The forwards combine to score
Then the right midfielder dribbles to cross
The forwards must make new movements in order to score from the cross
Then, the left midfielder dribbles to cross
Again the two forwards must make new movements in order to score from the cross
*For the next attack, the two forwards become wide midfielders, the wide midfielders become central players and
The central players become the new forwards
25. BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP - 3
Remember to
Rotate the
defenders
ACTIONS
The same as the previous drill
Including the movement of players etc
However, this time there is the added competition of a defending team
The forwards now play 2v1 on the initial pass and from both crosses.
26. BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP - 4
ACTIONS
This time the wide players are set and stay in this position for a set time period
This is the same for the defenders
The two forwards are now competing against two defenders
However, the central player now dribbles the ball into the pitch to make a 3v2 on the initial attack and crosses
The wide players are now encouraged to play a one-two with one of the forwards before crossing
27. ONE SHORT, ONE LONG
COMBINATION PLAY
The players
switch roles
for the next
attack
BLUE PLAYERS
RED PLAYERS
To start, Go long and receive a long pass
Set the supporting Red player
Now go short and receive a pass from the waiting player
Dummy the pass and spin to receive a lay off
Shoot at goal
To start, go short and receive a pass from the waiting player
Set the ball back and spin to receive a lay off
Shoot at goal
Now turn, get in line with the blue player
The blue player will dummy the ball and spin for a lay off
Lay the ball off and get the rebound
28. 1v1 CIRCUIT
3 touches to score
against the keeper
Pass to the player and
react to which goal he attacks
Can you stop him scoring?
Pass into space and chase the forward
Can you stop him scoring?
ROTATION OF PLAYERS
The players work off the coaches whistle
Station 1 goes first, then 2, then 3
After playing at station 1,
go and play each position at station 2,
then go and play each position at station 3
29. Conclusion
“I hope the practices in this journal will help you to design training programmes that both inspire
and develop your players”
The journal is part 1 in the Build up and Finishing series that is available via our website
www.academysoccercoach.com
We would really appreciate any feedback, queries or questions that you may have on this journal.
Please feel free to email us direct at: info@academysoccercoach.com
Good luck
Michael Beale and Phil Abbott
Academysoccercoach
